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Head Chef

London, HA1 3JL
£16.78 per hour (£32,721 per annum)
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About the role

Overview

London, HA1 3JL
Full Time
£16.78 per hour (£32,721 per annum)
4 March 2025

Are you an experienced and passionate Head Chef looking for a meaningful role?

Cygnet Hospital Harrow is looking for a Head Chef to oversee the delivery of high-quality, nutritious meals for our patients and staff. As part of a compassionate and supportive team, you will play a key role in enhancing the wellbeing of individuals in our care. 

Cygnet Hospital Harrow provides a recovery focused service treating a wide range of mental health problems. We also offer specialist diagnostic, assessment and inpatient services for individuals with mental health needs and who also have a dual diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.

Our acute in-patient psychiatric services offer assessment, diagnosis and treatment for individuals with a wide range of psychological and emotional problems, including those who are detained under the Mental Health Act.

Please Note: The shift patterns for this role are Tuesday – Friday 7am-5pm 

Key Responsibilities: 

  • Promote and ensure the good reputation of the Hospital. To maintain and demonstrate a positive attitudes towards clients, their families, staff, visitors and others.
  • Liaise with the Hospital Manager when planning/costing menus in order to provide a balanced nutritious diet, making the best use of fresh foods, as available.
  • Prepare, cook and serve meals, hot and cold, as appropriate. Responsible for maintaining and managing the food budget.
  • Provide special diets where necessary as well as taking into account the preferences of individual Clients.
  • To support the development of the process, practices and delivery of Active Recovery Care and Recovery.
  • Be responsible for the washing up after meals and the overall cleaning of the kitchen and where appropriate the dining area.
  • Maintain an accurate record / list of food supplies, freezer temperatures requirements, etc. where requested / required.
  • Order stocks and check deliveries, as well as check and value stocks as required by the Hospital Manager.
  • Supervise and train Kitchen Staff in the use of all equipment and hygiene procedures.
  • Maintain and improve professional knowledge and competence.
  • Ensure statutory Health and Safety standards in the kitchen and dining areas.
  • Report immediately to the Hospital Manager any illness of an infectious nature or accident incurred by a Client, Colleague, self or another.
  • Notify the Hospital Manager as soon as possible of the inability to work, and also on return to work, from all periods of absence. 

Essential Skills and Experience: 

  • OND or HND qualified 
  • Experience using fresh ingredients
  • Knowledge of health and safety practices
  • Line management experience
  • Experience within a similar environment

Why Cygnet? We’ll offer you…

  • An opening to undertake further learning with our excellent apprenticeship scheme
  • Expert supervision & support
  • Employee referral scheme
  • Free Health Cash plan
  • Enhanced maternity pay: 8 weeks full Pay, 18 weeks half Pay (Inclusive of SMP) followed by 13 weeks SMP.
  • 24 hours free GP support line
  • Free life assurance cover
  • Free eye tests
  • Car lease discounts
  • Discounted gym membership
  • Free mortgage broker and Insurance cover
  • Pension scheme
  • Employee NHS – discount savings & “Cycle to Work” scheme
  • Smart Health Toolkit- Providing you with Fitness Programmes, Nutrition consultation and Health checks

Ready to make a positive change? Please click on the ‘apply now’ link below or send your CV to LenaStreet@cygnethealth.co.uk

Due to limits on sponsorship allocations, we are not currently in a position to offer sponsorship to new candidates for these roles, this remains under review.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Benefits & Rewards

NHS Staff Discounts

Cygnet provides its staff with NHS discounts across a range of high street retailers. The discounts can be redeemed by showing your Cygnet ID badge. You can also get further discounts by registering your details with Health Service Discounts and Blue Light Card.

on site benefits icon

On-site Benefits

Cygnet provides free meals and free on-site parking for employees at work.

Cycle To Work Scheme

Cygnet will give you exclusive access to a range of benefits with our Cycle To Work scheme.

maternity icon

Enhanced Maternity

In addition to statutory pay, Cygnet provides enhanced maternity pay.

Plan your commute

Cygnet Hospital Harrow

London
London & South East
HA1 3JL
Stories from our staff
Quote marks
Cygnet's Chef Development Days are truly incredible.
Tortoise
Cygnet have been amazing with the supervision and support from my manager. They helped me identify my skill set to work on my strengths and weaknesses.

88% of staff enjoy working for Cygnet

At Cygnet, you’ll work in incredible, inspiring teams and enjoy satisfying careers with plenty of opportunities to grow

enjoy
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90% of staff said access to training has helped them in their role

No matter what your role is, we invest in your learning and development to help you achieve your career aspirations.

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Colleague to colleague endorsements

Hard Work endorsement icon

Katie

Service Manager
Recognised for
Hard Work
Recognised by

Since arriving at Norcott House this year ,Katie has has made many positive changes to the service. One to mention was supporting & planning for a SU to start to positively re access the community again which had ceased since the pandemic and felt to be an impossible task. Katie’s can do attitudes is always upbeat, positive and inspiring .

Support endorsement icon

Salina

Support Worker
Recognised for
Support
Recognised by

As the administrator for site, I do not have keys & a panic alarm when I am on site. After a staff meeting, I randomly tested the team to check response time for an alert that would not normally show – the basement meeting room. Along with x2 others, Salina responded within 20 seconds of the alarm being pulled. Well done Salina, excellent support!

Support endorsement icon

Nita

Support Worker
Recognised for
Support
Recognised by

As the administrator for site, I do not have keys & a panic alarm when I am on site. After a staff meeting, I randomly tested the team to check response time for an alert that would not normally show – the basement meeting room. Along with x2 others, Nita responded within 20 seconds of the alarm being pulled. Well done Nita, excellent support!

Communication endorsement icon

Sai

Support worker
Recognised for
Communication
Recognised by

He is always great and enthusiastic with the patients. I overheard him asking the psychology team how best to communicate/start conversation’s with a patient. He’s always smiling and a great colleague to work alongside.

Passion endorsement icon

Deborah

Senior Support Worker
Recognised for
Passion
Recognised by

Deborah is a night senior that has just been advised to go on light duties due to her current state. However, Deborah goes above and beyond to be punctual on shift, attend to all duties assigned cheerfully and give adequate support to the residents and staff members. She has been an exceptional Night senior and passionate about her job.

Support endorsement icon

Sally

Senior Nurse
Recognised for
Support
Recognised by

Sally is an excellent senior nurse; she is supportive, fun, motivated. She supported a service user to attend the Personality Disorder Conference, London; she encourage the service user onto a train from Nottingham, to use the London underground, escalators, etc. Sally kept the service user calm and contained ready for the presentation. Well done!

Passion endorsement icon

James

Governance Coordinator
Recognised for
Passion
Recognised by

Having James as the Governance Coordinator at Cygnet Woking and Woking Lodge has streamlined our processes in ensuring the safety and quality of patient care. His hard work, meticulous attention to detail, and dedication to gathering crucial data and documentation spanning the Datix management and incident reporting is appreciated and admired.

Fun endorsement icon

Tony Carrol

Support Worker
Recognised for
Fun
Recognised by

Tony has gone above and beyond to support one of the patients at the Views. He researches into their interests and makes fun activities relating to her interests, he plans fun outings and promotes positive engagement. Tony makes this patient laugh! Tony is a pleasure on shift and is caring to all staff and patients!

Support endorsement icon

Ugochukwu

Support Worker
Recognised for
Support
Recognised by

We have a service user that can be very reluctant to engage with household tasks. I noticed that the recycling bins were overflowing. Ugo successfully prompted the service user to help us with emptying the bins and then assist us maintaining hygiene standards by pointing out which areas we needed to clean. I’ve never seen this SU do this Well done!

Support endorsement icon

Neil

Security Lead
Recognised for
Support
Recognised by

Today there was some confusion about the venue at its been my first time there in years. Neil Crilly spent 15+ minutes helping me to feel comfortable at Cygnet Woking. He made sure that I had everything I needed to feel safe even arranging keys for me and a second ID badge so I could follow Woking systems. Honestly one of the best greetings I’v had

Click here to apply for a life changing career

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Benefits & Rewards

NHS Staff Discounts

Cygnet provides its staff with NHS discounts across a range of high street retailers. The discounts can be redeemed by showing your Cygnet ID badge. You can also get further discounts by registering your details with Health Service Discounts and Blue Light Card.

on site benefits icon

On-site Benefits

Cygnet provides free meals and free on-site parking for employees at work.

Cycle To Work Scheme

Cygnet will give you exclusive access to a range of benefits with our Cycle To Work scheme.

maternity icon

Enhanced Maternity

In addition to statutory pay, Cygnet provides enhanced maternity pay.

Plan your commute

Cygnet Hospital Harrow

London
London & South East
HA1 3JL
Stories from our staff
Quote marks
Cygnet's Chef Development Days are truly incredible.
Tortoise
Cygnet have been amazing with the supervision and support from my manager. They helped me identify my skill set to work on my strengths and weaknesses.

88% of staff enjoy working for Cygnet

At Cygnet, you’ll work in incredible, inspiring teams and enjoy satisfying careers with plenty of opportunities to grow

enjoy
Arrow graphic

90% of staff said access to training has helped them in their role

No matter what your role is, we invest in your learning and development to help you achieve your career aspirations.

Arrow graphic

Colleague to colleague endorsements

Hard Work endorsement icon

Katie

Service Manager
Recognised for
Hard Work
Recognised by

Since arriving at Norcott House this year ,Katie has has made many positive changes to the service. One to mention was supporting & planning for a SU to start to positively re access the community again which had ceased since the pandemic and felt to be an impossible task. Katie’s can do attitudes is always upbeat, positive and inspiring .

Support endorsement icon

Salina

Support Worker
Recognised for
Support
Recognised by

As the administrator for site, I do not have keys & a panic alarm when I am on site. After a staff meeting, I randomly tested the team to check response time for an alert that would not normally show – the basement meeting room. Along with x2 others, Salina responded within 20 seconds of the alarm being pulled. Well done Salina, excellent support!

Support endorsement icon

Nita

Support Worker
Recognised for
Support
Recognised by

As the administrator for site, I do not have keys & a panic alarm when I am on site. After a staff meeting, I randomly tested the team to check response time for an alert that would not normally show – the basement meeting room. Along with x2 others, Nita responded within 20 seconds of the alarm being pulled. Well done Nita, excellent support!

Communication endorsement icon

Sai

Support worker
Recognised for
Communication
Recognised by

He is always great and enthusiastic with the patients. I overheard him asking the psychology team how best to communicate/start conversation’s with a patient. He’s always smiling and a great colleague to work alongside.

Passion endorsement icon

Deborah

Senior Support Worker
Recognised for
Passion
Recognised by

Deborah is a night senior that has just been advised to go on light duties due to her current state. However, Deborah goes above and beyond to be punctual on shift, attend to all duties assigned cheerfully and give adequate support to the residents and staff members. She has been an exceptional Night senior and passionate about her job.

Support endorsement icon

Sally

Senior Nurse
Recognised for
Support
Recognised by

Sally is an excellent senior nurse; she is supportive, fun, motivated. She supported a service user to attend the Personality Disorder Conference, London; she encourage the service user onto a train from Nottingham, to use the London underground, escalators, etc. Sally kept the service user calm and contained ready for the presentation. Well done!

Passion endorsement icon

James

Governance Coordinator
Recognised for
Passion
Recognised by

Having James as the Governance Coordinator at Cygnet Woking and Woking Lodge has streamlined our processes in ensuring the safety and quality of patient care. His hard work, meticulous attention to detail, and dedication to gathering crucial data and documentation spanning the Datix management and incident reporting is appreciated and admired.

Fun endorsement icon

Tony Carrol

Support Worker
Recognised for
Fun
Recognised by

Tony has gone above and beyond to support one of the patients at the Views. He researches into their interests and makes fun activities relating to her interests, he plans fun outings and promotes positive engagement. Tony makes this patient laugh! Tony is a pleasure on shift and is caring to all staff and patients!

Support endorsement icon

Ugochukwu

Support Worker
Recognised for
Support
Recognised by

We have a service user that can be very reluctant to engage with household tasks. I noticed that the recycling bins were overflowing. Ugo successfully prompted the service user to help us with emptying the bins and then assist us maintaining hygiene standards by pointing out which areas we needed to clean. I’ve never seen this SU do this Well done!

Support endorsement icon

Neil

Security Lead
Recognised for
Support
Recognised by

Today there was some confusion about the venue at its been my first time there in years. Neil Crilly spent 15+ minutes helping me to feel comfortable at Cygnet Woking. He made sure that I had everything I needed to feel safe even arranging keys for me and a second ID badge so I could follow Woking systems. Honestly one of the best greetings I’v had

Click here to apply for a life changing career

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Speculative candidates or CVs sent to Cygnet by recruitment agencies/headhunters will be treated as a “free of charge” gesture. For further clarification, email recruitment@cygnethealth.co.uk
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